Highway Worker Safety Key To Bill Signed By Oklahoma Governor

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Gov. Mary Fallin has signed into law legislation designed to improve the on-the-job safety of Oklahoma highway workers.

The measure by Rep. Mike Sanders of Kingfisher reinstates the authority of state Department of Transportation employees and other road workers to use red-and-blue emergency lights on their vehicles when they are working on state highways. Lawmakers limited that right last year while trying to restrict towing services from using the lights.

Sanders says 54 state Department of Transportation workers and eight Oklahoma Turnpike Authority employees have died while working on roads in the state. He says that's more than any other state agency.

The legislation is supported by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety and other organizations. Fallin signed the new law on Wednesday and it takes effect on November 1, 2011.